Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
  • B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
  • B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
  • B44C1/165—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like for decalcomanias; sheet material therefor
  • B44C1/17—Dry transfer
  • B44C1/1712—Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
  • B41F16/00—Transfer printing apparatus
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/025—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
  • B41M5/035—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
  • B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
  • B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like

Definitions

• This invention relates to a procedure and equipment for decoration of various objects and in particular rusticated metal sheets for the construction of doors having panels in relief, extruded parts or thick tops.
• thermoformable film in general of polyvinyl alcohol
• a temperature of approximately 100 0 C a temperature of approximately 100 0 C
• the vacuum made to adhere to the cold part so that the film takes on the shape of the part. Then the whole is taken to the sublimation temperature without need of vacuum.
• the purpose of this invention is to remedy the above mentioned shortcomings of the prior art by making available a procedure and a device for decoration by sublimation allowing realization of details even of rusticated metal sheet or parts with high thermal capacity rapidly and with reduced or null manual intervention.
• a procedure for decoration by sublimation of various objects and in particular of rusticated metal sheet comprising the steps of heating the object to a first temperature lower than that of sublimation of the sublimable inks used, positioning on the object surface to be decorated a sheet with surface towards the object bearing the decoration realized by said sublimable inks, creating a vacuum between the sheet and the object to cause adherence of the sheet to the surface of the object, completion of heating to reach the sublimation temperature of the inks and transfer of the decoration to the surface of the object while maintaining the vacuum.
• FIGS 1 and 2 show diagrammatically a side cross section of a device in accordance with this invention in various operational steps
• FIG 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a variant embodiment of the device of the above figures for simultaneous decoration of two opposite sides of an object
• FIGS 4 and 5 show diagrammatic views of another variant of the device.
• FIG 1 shows diagrammaticalIy a device in accordance with this invention designated as a whole by reference number 10 in a first operational step.
• the device comprises a work top 11 containing a support plane with suction realized advantageously of spongy material 12 with open pores and resistant to the temperatures reached during operation of the device and connected to a suction system 13.
• the suction plane 12 is housed in a work seat or zone 14 surrounded by a sealing gasket 15 for support of an upper frame with molding 16 with interposition of or bearing a decoration film or sheet 17 with sublimable inks in such a manner as to create a sealed chamber 18 between the suction plane and the film.
• the part 19 to be decorated is housed in the chamber 18.
• heating means 20 advantageously with infrared lamps that are preferably positioned on a frame 21 movable in relation to the work top to allow moving aside the heating system during access to the seat 14 and positioning of the frame with the film.
• the heating means are applicable selectively for heating of the object to a first temperature below the sublimation temperature and for heating to the sublimation temperature the object covered by the sheet.
• the film used should become plastic (extensible on all sides) at a temperature variable between 60 0 C (advantageously 8O 0 C) and 14O 0 C and should resist without melting at least up to a slightly higher than the sublimation temperature of the inks used. For example, with sublimation temperature of 190 0 C the film should advantageously resist up to a temperature around 200 0 C.
• the surface of the film on the inked side has preferably a roughness (obtained also by flocking, filling with grains of inert material, embossing et cetera) such as to allow passage of air between the film and the surface to which it will be made to adhere so as to be able to evacuate the gasses that form during heating.
• thermoformable film 17 is positioned and, by closing of the frame 16 on the edge of the seat 14, a sealed chamber is created between the film and the suction plane.
• suction means 13 By operating the suction means 13, the vacuum created in the chamber takes the film into contact with the hot part as shown in FIG 2. Being a thermoformable film, it dilates and goes to adhere on the surface of the part.
• the heating means 20 are again operated to take the film-covered part to the sublimation temperature, for example approximately 19O 0 C.
• vacuum suction is maintained between the work top and the film in order to eliminate any gasses that form during heating and that would cause the film to detach from the part surface.
• the frame can be opened and the part removed. The device is then ready for a new decoration cycle.
• decoration can be obtained of varied objects and in particular of rusticated metal sheets such as those used for constructing doors with panels in relief, moldings, plates of metal or composite materials, fusions, and other objects characterized also by higher thermal inertia.
• the height of the object on the suction plane will be limited only by the depth of the seat and by the thermoplastic deformability of the film.
• FIG 3 shows an embodiment variant in which two opposite sides of the object are decorated simultaneously.
• the work top 111 comprises a support plane 112 under which are arranged heating means 120a advantageously infrared.
• the support plane 112 is realized to allow heating of anything arranged above it.
• the plane 112 can be made of a metallic network or a material transparent to infrareds. There is thus a work zone 114.
• a frame structure 116 is designed to be arranged around the work zone and consists of two superimposed members 130 and 131 to receive two inked films 117 superimposed and spaced. Appropriate gaskets ensure seal between the various superimposed parts.
• Suction means 113 are connected to the molding member 130 that is located between the two films so as to be able to create a vacuum in the chamber 118 delimited by the film.
• the member 119 In the chamber is placed the member 119 to be decorated on both sides.
• Above the chamber there are other infrared heating means 120b advantageously associated with handling means 121 to be able to move aside (as shown in broken lines in FIG 3) for operations of positioning the film, the part to be decorated and the frame.
• FIG 4 shows a variant embodiment designated as a whole by reference number 210 that uses overpressure above the film to create vacuum in the chamber.
• a work top 211 contains a support plane of spongy material 212 with open pores resistant to high temperature and connected to discharges 223 into the atmosphere. Peripherally there is a seat for an upper hood 221 with sealing gaskets 215 so as to create an airtight chamber 218 between the hood 221 and the film 217. There may also be provided a suction system 222 for the seal of the film 217 on the work top 211 by the vacuum.
• the pressure seal hood 221 can be translatable vertically and is constructed in such a manner as to create a sealed chamber 224 between the hood and the decoration film as may be seen in FIG 5.
• An infrared ray heating system 220 is positioned on the upper hood.
• a pressure source 213 is connected to the chamber 224 through a valve 225 that can also discharge into 226.
• the film after being preheated to a temperature of approximately 80 0 C with the infrareds 220 is made to adhere to the part surface 219 by the pressure created by the external circuit 213 and kept under pressure (advantageously between 0.1 bar and 0.5 bar) until the part reaches the sublimation temperature (between 18O 0 C and 200 0 C i.e. approximately 190°C).
• a considerable advantage of the procedure and equipment in accordance with this invention is that during the preheating step, carried out before deposition of the single film on the upper film, any gasses present in the porosity of the paint (for example even a simple water vapor) are evacuated in advance with considerable improvement in the quality of the decoration. In addition, the heating times of the sublimation step are considerably reduced and allow obtaining quality of the decoration with high contrast and definition.
• Another advantage of the procedure and equipment in accordance with this invention is that, due to the effect of temperature on the part, the film remains a long time in the softening step and grows longer on all sides and penetrates into all the hollows on the piece.
• lamps with fast starting and switching off they are used only for the time necessary for direct heating of the part in the first step (longer) and of the part covered with film in the second step (shorter). This time is variable for step one from 1 to 10 minutes approximately and for step two from 1 to 5 minutes approximately.
• decoration by sublimation of three-dimensional objects is possible and in particular rusticated metal sheets or parts with great thermal capacity such as tiles, pressure die-casting, fusions or molded parts in general.
• the procedure and equipment in accordance with this invention allow realization of a finishing operation completely automatic with high definition with no chance of errors due to the skill of the workers.
• Special films with high surface roughness or treatments (flocking) such as to allow air suction (necessary for vacuum machines) are not necessary.
• the film as it can have a smooth surface on the side where the ink is deposited, allows high drawing definition. There is also less cost of the decoration film since it can be a standard product.
• the film can be placed on the plane and then removed at the end of processing by known automatic or semiautomatic systems of unwinding of rewinding.
• the work planes can also have several positions (for example two or three positions) as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG 1 and the heating lamps can translate relatively sidewise above the various working positions, and the work positions or lamps can be moved.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=36190794

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• 2005
  • 2005-11-08 WO PCT/EP2005/011923 patent/WO2006050902A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-11-08 EP EP05800672A patent/EP1827828A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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